Walla Walla University Athletics

The foundation of the WWU athletics program was established long before the program was affiliated with a league or was a member of a national governing organization. From the vibrant intramural program that is enjoyed by students across campus to the annual Sonnenberg basketball contest, which for many years matched students living in residence halls against students living off campus, Walla Walla University has a rich sports-infused history.
 
In 1983, Tim Windemuth joined the WWU health and physical education department and began organizing students into club teams that represented the university as members of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). These teams offered sports clinics and played teams from community colleges, Bible colleges, junior varsity athletic programs, and other FCA clubs.
 
"FCA" initially included men’s and women’s basketball and men’s flag-football teams. Through the years, the program grew to include men's & women’s volleyball, women’s fast-pitch softball, track & field, and men’s slow-pitch softball.
 
In the mid-1990s, the university moved toward a traditional varsity athletic program. The student association voted the Wolves as the official mascot and an athletic council was established to help with policy development. The Walla Walla University Wolves athletics program was born.
 
The first national affiliation for the Wolves was with the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA). Men’s and Women’s Basketball, and  Women's Volleyball competed in the Pacific Northwest College Conference (PNCC) and won multiple league championships. In 2004, an additional national affiliation was added when the Wolves were admitted to the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA).
 
In 2008, the WWU athletic program moved its national affiliation to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) as an independent member. In this category, WWU was automatically affiliated with the NAIA Association of Independent Institutions (AII). For post-season playoff games and awards, the AII served in place of a traditional conference, and WWU discontinued its affiliation with the NCCAA.
 
Following Tim Windemuth’s retirement in 2013, Gerry Larson, a 1995 WWU graduate, became athletic director. During the 2014-2015 academic year, the university discontinued its USCAA membership and its affiliation with the AII. In June 2014, the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) Council of Presidents admitted WWU into the CCC.  

WWU athletics program historical timeline
 
Pacific Northwest College Conference (PNCC), 1994-2000
League championships:
Men’s basketball, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000
Women’s volleyball, 1998, 1999, 2000
 
National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA), 1997-2008
National Championship Invitational Tournament appearances:
Men’s Basketball, eighth place, 2008
Men’s Basketball, fourth place, 2005
Men’s Volleyball, second place, 2000
Men’s Volleyball, second place, 1998

All-Tournament Team
Ryan White (Men's Basketball I): 2004-05
Hugo Gomez (Men's Volleyball): 2002-03
Jason McGil (Men's Volleyball): 2002-03
Tim Chinnock (Men's Volleyball): 2001-02, 2002-03
Matthew White (Men's Volleyball): 1999-00, 2000-01, 2001-02
Allins Nobuo (Men's Volleyball): 1999-00
Isaac White (Men's Volleyball): 1999-00

1st Team All-American
Jeremy Claridge (Men's Basketball I): 2004-05, 2005-06

2nd Team All-American
Ryan Wilson (Men's Basketball I): 2005-06

All-American Honorable Mention
Ryan Wilson (Men's Basketball): 2006-07
Alan Krause (Men's Basketball I): 2005-06
Ashton Bartlett (Men's Basketball I): 2005-06
Ryan White (Men's Basketball I): 2004-05

Pete Maravich Memorial Award:
Jeremy Claridge, 2006 

United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA), 2004-2013
National Championship Invitational Tournament appearances:
Soccer, third place, 2008
Women’s Volleyball, fifth place, 2006
Women’s Volleyball, fourth place, 2005

All-Tournament Team
Kelsey Bowen (Women's Volleyball): 2006

1st Team All-American
Danielle Braggs (Women's Volleyball): 2006
Kelsey Bowen (Women's Volleyball): 2006

All-American Honorable Mention
Kevin Nateras (Men's Soccer): 2011
Amber Davin (Women's Softball): 2008
Sarah Rivera (Women's Softball): 2008

 
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), 2008-present
NAIA Association of Independent Institutions (AII), 2008-2015
AII-Conference Championship Tournament appearances:
Women’s Volleyball, fifth place tie, 2014
Women’s Volleyball, fourth place, 2010
Men’s Basketball, third place, 2009
 
NAIA Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC). 2015-present
Player of the Week:
Zayne Browning (Men's Basketbal): 2021 (12/6-12/12)
KiAndre Gaddy (Men's Basketball): 2020 (12/22 - 01/06)
Carolina Montes (Women's Basketball): 2019 (11/24 - 12/01)
Jaliyah Casem (Women's Basketball): 2019 (11/10 - 11/16)
Zayne Browning (Men's Basketball): 2019 (10/20 - 10/27)
Spencer Glubay (Men's XC) 2019 (10/13 - 10/19)
Emmett Semple (Men's Soccer) 2019 (9/16 - 9/22)
Aaliyah Anderson (Women's Basketball): 2018 (11/5 - 11/12)
Brendan Collins (Men's Golf): 2017 (10/09 - 10/16), 2018 (10/22 - 10/29)
Chad Torkelsen (Men's Basketball): 2015 (11/02 - 11/09)

Honorable Mention
KiAndre Gaddy (Men's Basketball): 2019 (12/1 - 12/7), 2019 (12/8 - 12/14)
Spencer Glubay (Men's XC) : 2019 (9/16 - 9/22)

All-Conference Honors
Gabrielle Browning (Women's Volleyball) 2021 Honorable Mention
Diego Molina (Men's Soccer): 2021 Honorable Mention
Jacob Smith (Men's Soccer): 2021 Honorable Mention
KiAndre Gaddy (Men's Basketball): 2019-20 Newcomer of the Year, 2019-20 All-Conference First Team
Carolina Montes (Women's Basketball): 2018-19 Honorable Mention, 2019-20 Honorable Mention
Spencer Glubay (Men's XC): All-Conference First Team
Emmett Semple (Men's Soccer): 2019 Honorable Mention
Kudzai Mhondiwa (Men's Soccer): 2019 Honorable Mention
Carlos Cantu (Men's Soccer): 2018 Honorable Mention, 2019 Honorable Mention
Wesley Burke (Men's Basketball): 2017-18 Honorable Mention
Alyssa Blankenship (Women's Basketball): 2016-17 Honorable Mention
Jordan St. George (Men's Soccer): 2017 Honorable Mention
Ryan Spady (Men's Basketball): 2015-16 Honorable Mention

All-Conference Team Honors
Men's Soccer (2021): Team Sportsmanship
Men's Soccer (2019): Team Sportsmanship

All-Conference Championship Tournament
Men's Golf, 3rd place, 2018

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